Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah today announced that Bharat Taxi, the country’s cooperative ride-hailing platform, will be expanded to 500 cities and towns across the country over the next two years.
Speaking at the official launch of the Bharat Taxi, he said the initiative was a transformative step in the cooperative sector. Mr Shah said Bharat Taxi aims to provide a fair and transparent mobility platform by making drivers, referred to as Sarathis, direct stakeholders.
He said the model will ensure that drivers receive a larger share of their earnings while passengers benefit from safe and affordable services. The Home Minister criticised existing app-based taxi aggregators, alleging that they impose high commissions on drivers, delay payments and suspend accounts without adequate justification.
Referring to reports about pricing, Mr Shah said some established platforms are currently operating at a loss to counter the cooperative initiative but expressed confidence that Bharat Taxi would emerge as a strong alternative.
Mr Shah also cited the success of the Amul cooperative movement, saying Bharat Taxi reflects the same cooperative spirit by empowering people through collective ownership.
On the occasion, Bharat Taxi signed Memorandums of Understanding with several organisations, including Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, the State Traffic Police, major airports and railway authorities, to strengthen transport integration and improve services for commuters and drivers.
